1、天道酬勤感恩过去,砥砺前行By+Barack+Obama2023年1月,奥巴马卸任美国总统。此前,他给自己的美国同胞写了一封辞别信。他说:是你们使我成为一个更好的人。感恩过去,砥砺前行,这或许才是辞别的最好境界。My fellow Americans,Its a long-standing1 tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office2 for the American elected3 to take his or her place
2、. Its a letter meant to share what we know, what weve learned, and what small wisdom may help our successor bear the great responsibility that comes with the highest office in our land, and the leadership of the free world.But before I leave my note for our 45th president, I wanted to say one final
3、thank you for the honor of serving as your 44th. Because all that Ive learned in my time in office, Ive learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.Throughout these eight years, you have been the source of goodness, resilience4, and hope from which Ive pulled stren
4、gth. Ive seen neighbors and communities take care of each other during the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. I have mourned with grieving families searching for answersand found grace5 in a Charleston church6.Ive taken heart7 from the hope of young graduates and our newest military officers. I
5、ve seen our scientists help a paralyzed8 man regain his sense of touch, and wounded warriors once given up for dead walk again. Ive seen Americans whose lives have been saved because they finally have access to medical care9, and families whose lives have been changed because their marriages are rec
6、ognized as equal to our own10. Ive seen the youngest of children remind us through their actions and through their generosity11of our obligations to care for refugees, or work for peace, and, above all, to look out for each other.Ive seen you, the American people, in all your decency12, determinatio
7、n, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, Ive seen our future unfolding.All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that workthe joyous work of citizenship. Not just when theres an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake13, but over the f
8、ull span of a lifetime.Ill be right there with you every step of the way.And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word We. We the People. We shall overcome.Yes, we can.我的美國同胞:endprint现任美国总统为
9、继任者在总统办公室留下一封离别信是一个悠久的传统。这封信旨在分享我们的所知所学、薄才浅智,或许能够以此协助继任者担起重任,那是这片土地的最高领导和这个自由世界的领袖需要肩负的责任。但是在我给我们的第45任总统写信之前,我想最后再道一声感谢,感谢我能有幸成为你们的第44任总统。因为在任期间我所学到的一切,都是你们教给我的。是你们将我塑造成一位更好的总统,是你们使我成为一个更好的人。八年来,你们一直是善良、坚韧、希望之源,让我从中汲取力量。在我们人生最严重的经济危机中,我见证了邻里和社区之间彼此扶持。我曾与那些悲哀的家庭一起哀悼,共同寻求答案,在查尔斯顿的一所教堂找到恩泽。我曾从年轻的毕业生和新任
10、命的军官那里受到鼓舞。我曾见证科学家们帮助瘫痪者重获触觉,帮助一度被认为没治的伤兵重新行走。我曾看到成千上万美国人的生命得以挽救,因为他们最终获得了医保;也曾看到无数家庭的生活发生了改变,因为他们的婚姻被认为与我们的一样平等。我曾见证那些最稚嫩的孩子们用实际行动和慷慨解囊提醒着我们去践行帮助难民、维护和平,最重要的是,相互扶持的义务。美国人民,从你们身上我看到了正派坚毅,幽默善良。从你们日常履行公民义务的举止中,我看到了我们的未来正徐徐展开。我们所有人,无论党派,都应该将自己投入到那份工作中去那身为公民的喜事乐业中。这不仅仅表达在大选期间,也不仅仅表达在个人有限的利益受到威胁时,而应贯穿我们的
11、一生。这一路上的每一步我都将与你们同行。当我们的进步之路看上去变缓时,请记住:美国非一人之国。美国民主中最强大的一个词就是“我们。“我们人民。“我们一定会克服。是的,我们一定办得到。1. long-standing: 长期存在的;由来已久的2. Oval Office: 美国白宫的椭圆形办公室,美国总统办公室3. American elected: 美国候任总统,指已被中选但还没有正式就职的总统,这里指的是特朗普。4. resilience rzlins n. 复原力;坚韧5. grace res n. 上帝的恩宠,恩典6. 指查尔斯顿教堂枪杀案the Charleston church sh
12、ooting,发生在2023年6月17日南加利福尼亚查尔斯顿市中心的一所黑人教堂,共有九人遇难,犯人是一名白人男性。7. take heart: 获得勇气或抚慰;受到鼓舞8. paralyzed prlazd adj. 瘫痪的9. 2023年,美国国会通过了由美国时任总统奥巴马提出的医疗改革法案,该法案把3200万没有保险的美国民众纳入医保体系,美国医保覆盖率从85%提升至95%,接近全民醫保。10. 2023年6月,经美国最高法院裁定,美国的同性婚姻正式合法化。11. generosity denrsti n. 慷慨;大方12. decency disnsi n. 合宜;得体;正派;符合礼仪13. at stake: 处于危险境地;处于成败关头endprint